Tower structure



Jan. 28, 1964 B. R. TURNER TOWER STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1959 FIGZ:

INVENTOR, BENJAMIN R. TURN fipfi flfl w Jan. 28, 1964 B. R. TURNER 3,119,471

TOWER STRUCTURE Filed April 2, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FlG.6

INVENTOR,

BENJAMIN R. TURNER 7 BY 7 w w Jan. 28, 1964 B. R. TURNER 3,119,471

TOWER STRUCTURE Filed April 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.8

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INVENTOR,

BENJAMIN R. TURNER United States Patent Ofiice 3,119,471 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 3,119,471 TOWER TRUTURE Benjamin B. Turner, Memphis, Tenn, assign'or to Rohn Manufacturing (30., Peoria, 151., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 803,627 6 Claims. (Cl. l89-12) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in elongated towers, particularly of the sectional type adapted for use in connection with the support of antennae or the like in conjunction with radio and television types of operations, and which has many other useful supporting purposes.

There have been numerous attempts to utilize various types of structural members in the erection of tower-like supports, although previous efforts have primarily been characterized by relatively cumbersome structures, difiicult to handle, and often proving commercially ineffective.

The present invention relates to a tower structure formed of prefabricated sections which may be quickly mounted together at the work sit-us and installed there, providing a tower of extreme durability and strength, minimizing deflection or deviation of the tower from the vertical in order to properly maintain the supported an tenna in its prescribed position, an item of great importance in connection with the reception of relay signals as from other stations, since even a minor angular deviation is capable of disrupting the desired reception.

The tower of the present invention provides a highly eflicient means for supporting an antenna mast and a new and novel arrangement for the connection of guy cables to the tower structure together with strain transmitting elements used in connection with such guy connections for efiectively distributing the strains induced upon the tower structure through a guy cable.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel tower structure adapted for supporting antennae.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tower structure comprised of prefabricated sections made up of tubular members.

A iurther object of the invention is to provide a new and novel means of interconnecting the tubular legs of such prefabricated sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and novel means for connecting guy cables to such tower structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with the connection of guy cables to a tower structure, a new and novel strain transmitting means interconnected with the guy connections and spanning from leg to leg of the tower.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and novel means for supporting an antenna mast.

A further object of the invention is to provide an =im proved means of mounting the base portion of the tower.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and novel means of anchoring guy cables to an area adjacent but outwardly spaced from the base of the tower; and

A further object is generally to improve the design, construction and efficiency of tower structures.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood tfrom the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a tower structure embodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view on an enlarged scale taken as on the line IIII of *FIG. 1 with parts removed for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view on the scale of FIG. 2 taken as on the line I:IIIII "of FIG. 1 with the guy cables broken oil for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the upper end of the tower structure.

'FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the base of the tower with parts broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view on a further enlarged scale illustrating one of the guy cable connections to the tower.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of guy connector.

FIG. 8 is a side view on a slightly reduced scale of a preferred form of strain transmitting tie member.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the tie member of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating a splice joint between section leg ends and a guy connection related thereto.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the anchoring of the guy cable as to ground surface; and

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a mast support arm and bolt means as 'used therewith.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the tower structure 20 embodying the new and novel means of the present invention comprises a plurality of superposed sections 21, each of the sections basically comprising a plurality of tubular legs 22 which are interconnected by cross bracing or lacing members 23. Preferably the lacing members 23 are formed of tubular elements and have their ends flattened as at 25 to provide for attachment of the lacing members 23 to the legs 22 as by bolts 27. Lacing members 23 are disposed to extend diagonally between adjacent pairs of legs 22 and efiectively to interconnect the legs together in the formation of the tower sections 21. Preferably the legs 22 are disposed to define an equilateral polygonal area, in the example shown being disposed to define an equilateral triangular area.

Each leg 22 at its lowermost end 29 is downwardly open to provide, in effect, a socket for fitting over a reduced upper end 31 of the member subjacent thereto. Preferably reduced ends 31 are provided by swaging the upper ends of the tubular members and dimensioning same to fit snugly within the downwardly open lower ends 29.

The tower 20 is formed by successively superposing sections 21, telescoping leg lower ends 29 over reduced upper ends 31, and rigidly fixing the thus nested ends providing splice joints between the successively superposed members. In each of the splice joints the nested ends are interconnected by joint bolts 33 which are preferably provided adjacent the threaded bolt ends with an annular shoulder 35, the shoulders 35 being spaced from the heads 37 of bolts 33 so that the shoulder engages the interior of the splice joint and the head engages the diametrically opposed exterior of the splice joint, as best shown in 'FIG. 10, resulting in providing for an accurate rig-id fitting of the bolts into the elements of the joint while preventing the possibility of overetightening the attaching nut 39 during the interconnection and fixing of the members. Thus the possibility of distorting the tubular members from their substantially circular cross sectional shapes at the joints is substantially completely eliminated, insuring that a possibly structurally weakened condition is prevented.

In order to mount the tower, a plurality of base legs 41, each including a similar reduced upper end 31, is provided. Preferably the base legs 41 are mounted in a base member 43 which is positioned to extend downwardly into a suitable excavation formed in the ground 44 at the site of the tower and is provided with an integral, preferably lowermost, flange 45 extending peripherally outwardly from the sides of base member 43 and more effectively engaging with the surrounding ground or other subsurface material. Base 43 preferably extends slightly above the level of the site surface, as 'best shown in FIG. 5, and'upper ends 31 of base legs 41 are positioned to project above the upper level of base 43. If desired, the base-containing excavation below flange 45 maybe provided with loose drainage filler such as the sand 47, the lower ends of base legs 41 extending downwardly beyond base flange 45 and terminating in such drainage fillerin order to-provide for quick run off of any possible undesired accumulation of moisture in or about the tower.

The lowermost of tower sections 21 is mounted upon the base legs 41, with the section leg lower ends 29 being nested over the respective upper ends 31 of base legs 4-1; The sections are successively superposed upon the structure with their respective lower leg ends 29 nested telescopically over the upper ends 31 of the subjacent portions. Thus the tower is erected to a desired height embodying a plurality of sections 21 and extending upwardly to such height as is desired for the particular work to be performed in the location chosen. As previously described, each of-the lower leg ends 29 forms with the reduced upper end 31with which it istelescopically nested a spliced joint, :and the same is fixed together as described preferably by the bolts 33.

As each of the sections 21 is successively superposed on the subjacent members the uppermost of the cross braces 23 is secured in position to the lower leg end 29 of the superjacent section 21 by bracing bolts 27 in the manner as shown in FIG. 1, the points of fixing the cross brace lacing members 23 being circumferentially offset from the apertures provided for the joint bolts 33. When the successive sections 21'have been superposed they form a tower structure defining a substantially equilateral polygonal area at the base and intercepting anequal polygonal equilateral area in the air into which the tower projects-and the respective legs 22 of the sections 21 combine through their splice jointing to form elongated legs of the tower which-are in-upright substantially parallel relationship.

After and during the erection of the tower by the superposing' of the plurality of sections 21, it is desirable that one or more guy cables 49 be effectively connected with the tower at the cable upper ends and connected with the ground surface at a point spacedfrom the tower base at their lower ends. Preferably at least one guy cable is connected 'with each of the composite legs formed of the superposed legs 22, and in the optimum arrangements at least three guy cables are connected with each of the composite legs and are spaced vertically along the leg structure of the tower at varying degrees of angularity relative to'the tower. Thus in the example shown, to each of the composite legs of the tower there are provided three guy cables 49 which are respectively connected with the tower and decline downwardly therefrom at varying degrees of angularity, the uppermost-cables 49 each being declined downwardly at an angle of approximately 60 degrees, the intermediate guy cables 49 being declined downwardly at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, and the lowermost guy cables 49 being declined downwardly at an angleof approximately 30 degrees. Preferably, the uppermost of the guy cables 49 is connected substantially at the upper end of the uppermost tower section 21 and the intermediate and lower guy cables 49 are preferably connected at splice joints therebelow.

The connection of the upper ends of guy cables 49 to the tower structure is preferably effected by'a guy conshanks 53 and these elements together form an integral connector, with the bight being provided with a downwardly angled portion terminating at its lower extremity in a rounded section 60 adapted to receive the eye of a cable 49, and by the angularity and arrangement of the parts being adapted to provide a cable eye receiving means which is somewhat below the center 'line of the lowermost shank 53 of the connector 51, the lower portion of 59 being downwardly deformed to merge'into the portions extending from the upper portion of bight 59, all as best shown in FIG. 7, and providing a seat for a cable eye, such as is illustrated in FIG. 6, which is below the center-of the lowermost shank 53 of the connector. In order to connect the uppermost of the guy cables 49 to the tower structure, the cable eye 61 firmly secured to cable 49 is passed over one of the shanks of connector 51 and is moved downwardly into the rounded extremity 60 of bight 59. Threaded sections 55 of shanks 53 maythen be inserted through the suitable apertures formed in the upper end of the uppermost leg section leg portion of the uppermost section 51 and secured in position as by suitable nuts 63 similar to nuts 39. Thus it will be seen that the guy connectors are directly connected with the legs of the tower structure without the necessity of the interposition of collars or loops or other similar interposed means, and that the guy connectors are thus firmly secured to the respective legs to which they are mounted in order that the strains upon and from the respective guy cables are directly transmitted to such leg structures.

Preferably, during the mounting of the guy connectors to the tower structure, strain transmitting tie members 65 are positioned. Each of tie members 65 is comprised'of a substantially channel-shaped body having outwardly projecting flanges 67 and tapering from end to end. At its larger or wider end, each member 65 is preferably provided with an arcuately curved attachment section 69 which is preferably formed to snugly fit the exterior of a leg 22, and is provided with apertures 71 adapted to register with the bolt receiving apertures formed in leg 22. At its opposite and more narrow end each member 65 is provided with a bolt-receiving aperture 72 interposed between flanges 67 and which is adapted to receive a bracing bolt 27 and to be moved into register with the bracing bolt receiving apertures of the respective legs 22.

As the guy connector 51 is connected with the upper end of a leg 22 a tie member 65 is positioned so that the uppermost of apertures '71 is disposed to receive the uppermost of shanks 53 with the lowermost of shanks 53 being disposed below the lower extremity of the attachment section 69. The uppermost shank 63 is then projected through the uppermost apertures 71, through the apertures formed in the uppermost end of the uppermost leg 22, and moved inwardly until shoulder 57 of the shankis moved into contact with the exterior of attachment section 69, and thus with threaded section 55 projecting therebeyond. A nut 63 is affixed to the projecting end of the shank threaded portion 55 and the lowermost of shanks 53 is projected through the body of leg 22, preferably a washer such as the washer 73 being interposed to insure a proper seating, andthe shoulder 57 of the lowermost shank 53 abutting against the washer 73, and another nut 63 being connected to the projecting threaded section 55. Intermediate the shanks 53 now connected with the tower structure a joint bolt 33 is passed through the lowermost apertures 71 of tie member 65 and is suitably fixed into position as heretofore described. The

aperture 72 in the opposite end of tie member 65 is then positioned to overlie the flattened end 25 of an uppermost lacing member 23 and a bracing bolt 27 is passed therethrough in order to connect both the other end of the tie member 65 and the upper end of lacing member 23 to the leg 22 of the tower structure.

Thus it will be seen that each of the guy connectors 51 is not only connected directly with the leg structure of the tower, but is also connected directly to one of the tie members 65 which span to an adjacent leg, and that immediately adjacent such connection a tapered or smaller end of another of tie members 65 is connected with the leg to which the guy connector is attached. Similar connections and attachments are employed with the other guy connectors and in each instance a tie member 65 preferably is to be employed.

At the intermediate cable connections below the upper end, which has just been described, a similar mounting and arrangement is followed, attention being called to the fact that the shanks 53 of the guy connectors at the intermediate connections are preferably substituted for joint bolts 33 to assist in the connection between the elements of the respective splice joints, the intermediate and lower guy connections preferably being made at such splice joints, as best shown in FIG. 1.

From their upper ends, respectively connected through guy connectors 51 to the tower structure, guy cables 49 decline angularly downwardly toward their lower ends which may be connected to a suitable anchor means as shown in FIGS. 1 and 11. Adjusting means such as the turnbuckles 75 may be connected with cables 49 to provide for the suitable adjustmnet of tension thereon, and otherwise the cables are connected with an anchor plate 77 which is of substantially triangular shape. The plate 77 is swivelly connected as at 79 to an anchor rod 81 which extends angularly downwardly below the surface of ground 44 and into an anchor block 83 which may be formed of concrete or otherwise, and preferably anchor rod 81 at or adjacent to its lower end is provided with a perpendicularly disposed abutment plate 85 embedded in block 83 and extending outwardly from rod 81 and providing a firm securement of the anchor means within the block 83, to rigidly mount the same therein in a fixed position of outwardly projecting angularity.

Adjacent its upper end, tower may be, and preferably is, supplied with a mast 87 for supporting an antenna 89. Preferably, mast 87 extends downwardly within the area defined by the legs of the tower and is substantially centrally disposed relative to the tower, extending downwardly a minor portion of the overall height of the tower and terminating preferably adjacent the lower end of the uppermost of sections 21. For the purpose of supporting the mast in its position, two sets of mast arms 91 are provided.

Each of the mast arms 91 is preferably formed of a substantially channel-shaped member having horizontally disposed flanges 93, and each of the flanges 93 is cut out as at 95 and serrated adjacent thereto to provide effective gripping surfaces for the engagement respectively of mast 91 and of tower legs 22. Preferably, one set of the mast arms 91 is disposed closely adjacent the uppermost end of tower 20 and another set of the mast arms 91 is disposed closely adjacent the first splice joint therebelow.

The mast arms 91 are respectively connected with the tower legs 22, with the mast arms 91 arranged in relatively superposed relationship as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, and this arrangement is maintained in each of the sets of the mast arms. In order to respectively position the mast arms in their desired positionings a first mast arm 91 may be connected at its outer end to a tower leg 22, the serrated cut out 95 at one end of the mast arm being embraced around a part of the exterior of the tower leg, and the tower leg being otherwise embraced with a pair of U-bolts 97 whose threaded ends extend through suitable apertures formed in the web of the mast arm 91 and pro- 6 ject therebeyond for engagement as by nuts which may be in the form of butterflies 99. Preferably, each end of the mast arm is provided with apertures for the reception of upper and lower U-bolts 97 and the fixing of the same to the legs by nuts 99.

Successively the additional mast arms corresponding to the number of legs employed in the tower structure (in the present example with three legs there are in each set of mast arms three mast arms) are connected with the respective legs and project inwardly to the center of the area defined by the tower structure. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner ends of the mast arms are similarly connected with the mast 87 by additional U-bolts 97 and butterflies 99, the serrated sections on the inner ends of the successive mast arms 91 cooperating to substantially completely surround the periphery of the mast 87, and the serrations being drawn thereagainst by the U-bolts so as clampingly to engage the mast and hold the same rigidly in engagement. A similar arrangement and connection is employed in the mounting of the lower set of mast arms shown in FIG. 1 which are connected with the tower and with the mast closely adjacent the splice joint between the uppermost section 21 and the next section 21 subjacent thereto. As a result, mast 87 is maintained in a rigid upright position in absolute parallelism with the legs of tower 20, and is held in this position against deviation therefrom under strains and stresses.

It will be seen that the present structure provides an extremely rigid means for mounting and supporting a tower of an elongated nature, particularly adapted for the support of a mast such as the antenna mast 87 shown in the present disclosure. The guying arrangement, including the cables and the guy connectors and the means of anchoring the lower ends of the guy cables, are such as to substantially prevent any deviation of the tower from vertical positioning, with the strains which may be transmitted, as for example under wind load, being transmitted through the guy cables to the tie members and thus from one leg to another.

I claim:

1. In a tower structure, a plurality of elongated legs, said legs defining a substantially equilateral polygonal area and being substantially vertical; guy means maintaining said legs in vertical condition against deviation, said guy means including a multiplicity of guy cables, a like multiplicity of guy connectors connected to each of said legs at spaced intervals along said legs, said guy connectors each comprising a deformed clevis member having upper and lower shanks with threaded ends, and a bight having an outwardly and downwardly declined portion and a rounded cable seat extending below the lowermost shank of said connector, each said guy cable having an eye seated in the cable seat of its related connector, strain transmitting tie members spanning between adjacent said legs, each said tie member comprising an elongated tapered member having a smaller end fixed to one said leg and enlarging to a larger end having an arcuately curved attachment section, said attachment section embracing an adjacent leg, said shanks extending through said attachment section and said leg and fixing said cable and said tie member to said adjacent leg.

2. In a tower structure for supporting an antenna mast against deviation from vertical position, a plurality of elongated composite legs, said legs defining a substantially equilateral polygonal area and being substantially vertical; guy means maintaining said legs in vertical condition against deviation, said guy means including a multiplicity of guy cables, a like multiplicity of guy connectors connected to each of said legs at spaced intervals along said legs, said guy connectors each comprising a deformed clevis member having upper and lower shanks with threaded ends, and a bight having an outwardly and downwardly declined portion and a rounded cable seat extending below the lowermost shank of said connector, each said guy cable having an eye seated in the cable seat of itsrelated connector, strain transmitting tie members spanning betweenadjacent said legs, each said tie member. comprising an elongated tapered member having asmaller end fixed to one said leg and enlarging to' a larger end having an arcuately curved attachment section, said attachment section embracing an adjacent leg, said shanks extending through said attachment section and said leg and fixing said cable and said tie member to said adjacent leg.

3. In a tower structure for supporting an antenna mast against deviation from vertical position, a plurality of elongated composite legs, said legs defining a substantially equilateral polygonal area and being substantially vertical; guy means maintaining said legs in vertical condition against deviation, said guy means including a multiplicity of guy cables, 21 like multiplicity of guy connectors connected to each of said legs at spaced intervals along said legs, said guy cables being respectively attached to said guy connectors, strain transmitting tie members spanning between adjacent said legs, each said tie'member comprising an elongated tapered member having a smaller end fixed to one said leg and enlarging to a larger end having an arcuately curved attachment section, said attachment section embracing an adjacent leg, said guy connectors extending through said attachment section and said leg and fixing said cable and said tie member to said adjacent leg.

4. In a tower structure, a plurality of elongated tubular legs which extend vertically of one another with each tubular leg including tubular sections and with said sections having tubular ends and reduced ends secured together in telescoped assembly forming a series of section joints, guy means for maintaining said legs in vertical relation against deviation, said guy means including a multiplicity of guy cables, at like multiplicity of guy connectors connected to each of said legs at spaced intervals along said legs, said guy connectors each comprising a deformed clevis member havingupper and lower shanks with threaded ends, a bight having an-outwardly and downwardly declined portion and a rounded cable seat extending below the lowermost shank of said'connector, each of said guy cables having an eye seated in the cable seat of its related connector, said shanks on at least one of said connectors extending through said tubular and reduced ends of said tubular sections of each of said legs with said shanks in each such instance extending through both of said telescoped ends on each leg at the sectionjoints, and means on said threaded ends of said connectors securing said connectors'to said sections while securing each pair of telescoped'ends in reinforced assembly together and fixing said cable and said tie member to the associated leg.

5. In a tower structure, a plurality of vertically elongated legs with said legs comprised of leg sections having tubular ends and reduced ends secured in telescoped assembly form-Inga series of joints, means connected to said seated-in the cable seat of'its related connector, said shanks extending through said legsections at said joints,

and means on said threaded ends of said connectorssecuring said connectors in assembly with said leg sections.

6. In atower structure-,:a plurality of vertically elongated legswith'said legs'comprised of leg sections having tubular ends and reduced-ends secured in telescoped assembly forming a series of joints, vertically spaced openings through said telescoped ends at said joints, means connected to said legs maintaining said legs in spaced relation with respectto one another and in assembly together, guy'rneans' for maintaining said legs invertical condition against deviation, saidguy means including a multiplicity of guy cables, 21 like multiplicity of guyconnectors connected to each of said legs at spaced intervals along said legs, said guy connectors each comprising a deformed clevis member having upper and lower shanks with threaded ends, a bight having an outwardly and downwardly declined portion and a rounded cable seat extending below the lowermost shank of said connector; the shank being smaller in diameter than said openings, the shanks each having a shank shoulder spaced between its outermost end and said bight with an outside diameter greater than the diameter of said openings to anchor the shank on one side of'the engaged sections, each said guy cable being secured with the cable seat of its related con nector, said-shanks extending through said openings in said leg sections at said joints, and means on said threaded.

ends'of said connectors securing said connectors-in assembly with said leg sections while: maintaining the shank shoulders bottomed against said sections atsaid joints with the bights being spaced from the sections.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,387,120 Cohen Oct. 16, 1945 2,410,246 Scrivener et al. Oct. 29, 1946' 2,526,511 Smythe Oct, 17, 1950 2,705,061 Getz Mar. 29, 1955 2,739,673 Foster Mar. 27, 1956 2,761,531 Anderson Sept. 4, 1956 2,806,560v Cox Sept. 17, 1957 3,047,107 Parinenter et al July 31, 1962 

1. IN A TOWER STRUCTURE, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED LEGS, SAID LEGS DEFINING A SUBSTANTIALLY EQUILATERAL POLYGONAL AREA AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL; GUY MEANS MAINTAINING SAID LEGS IN VERTICAL CONDITION AGAINST DEVIATION, SAID GUY MEANS INCLUDING A MULTIPLICITY OF GUY CABLES, A LIKE MULTIPLICITY OF GUY CONNECTORS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID LEGS AT SPACED INTERVALS ALONG SAID LEGS, SAID GUY CONNECTORS EACH COMPRISING A DEFORMED CLEVIS MEMBER HAVING UPPER AND LOWER SHANKS WITH THREADED ENDS, AND A BIGHT HAVING AN OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY DECLINED PORTION AND A ROUNDED CABLE SEAT EXTENDING BELOW THE LOWERMOST SHANK OF SAID CONNECTOR, EACH SAID GUY CABLE HAVING AN EYE SEATED IN THE CABLE SEAT OF ITS RELATED CONNECTOR, STRAIN TRANSMITTING TIE MEMBERS SPANNING BETWEEN ADJACENT SAID LEGS, EACH SAID TIE MEMBER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TAPERED MEMBER HAVING A SMALLER END FIXED TO ONE SAID LEG AND ENLARGING TO A LARGER END HAVING AN ARCU- 